Prasidh Krishna booked Perth Test selection with all-round performance against Australia A

India pacer Prasidh Krishna impressed with his all-round skill in the second unofficial Test against Australia A and his performance put him in the line for recall to India’s Test side. With a lethal spell and a timely knock, Prasidh signaled his readiness for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy and potentially locked up a spot in India’s pace rankings for the Perth Test on November 22.

Making a hot start to the second innings, the 6ft 1in seamer hit two in his first over, dismissing both Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft for the golden ducks. Harris and Bancroft, both considered Test hopefuls for Australia, were stunned by Prasidh’s opener. Bowling around the wicket towards left-hander Harris, Prasidh delivered a full-length delivery, swayed slightly and edged Harris’ inside edge into Dhruv Jurel’s gloves and then removed Bancroft. He leaves Australia A behind with the next ball and displays the swing and seam that could make him a handful on Perth’s bouncy track.

Earlier in the day, Prasidh also made a valuable contribution with the bat, scoring 29 crucial runs to take India A’s total to 229 in the second innings. The A’s first innings of 4-50 in Australia almost resulted in a five-wicket haul, showcasing his ability to bat consistently and contribute to the team’s scoreboard pressure.

Prasidh’s bowling not only broke partnerships but also showcased his ability to capitalize on bounce and movement off the field. He dismissed Jimmy Peirson with a big leap and Jurel took a sharp low catch to end their 68-run partnership. Prasidh then returned to dismiss Harris again and the left-hander attempted a drive towards Jurel in the 74th over. He also pulled Scott Boland to a miscue which was caught safely by Abhimanyu Easwaran in the first over.

India’s selection panel will soon decide on the third pacer to join Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in the Test series. Prasidh’s blend of bounce, seam movement and confidence make him a formidable candidate, especially with Mohammed Shami’s return to the team looking uncertain.